w 


mm, 


MEMOIR 


A  NATIVE  OF  THE 


MARQUESAS  ISLANDS 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE 


AMERICAN  TRACT  SOCIETY 
J50  Nassau-street,  New-York. 


SERIES  IV. 


raziaom 


NS  1 


OF 

iRtiomati  mtatoo. 


A  NATIVE  OF  THE  , 

MARQUESAS  ISLANDS, 


Who  died  June  19,  1823,  while  a  member  of  the  Foreign  Mis¬ 
sion  School  in  Cornwall,  Connecticut. 

Originally  written  by  Mr.  Harlan  Page. 


PUBLISHED  BY 


THE  AMERICAN  TRACT  SOCIETY 
SO  Naesau-«treet,  New-York. 


f 


. 


. 


, 


■ 


MEMOIR 


OP 

THOMAS  HAMITAH  PATOO 

CHAPTER  I. 

The  Marquesas  Islands — Inhabitants — Missions  at — 
Notice  of  his  birth — His  leaving  his  country — Resi¬ 
dence  at  Owhyhee — Escape  to  China — Arrival  in 
America. 

The  Marquesas,  or  as  they  are  sometimes  called, 
the  Marquis  of  Mendoza’s  Islands,  are  a  cluster  of 
Islands  in  the  South  Pacific  Ocean,  five  in  number. 
They  are  named,  St.  Christina,  Magdalena,  Dominica, 
St.  Pedro,  and  Hood,  and  extend  from  138°  45'  to 
140°  3CK  W.  Long,  and  from  8°  30'  to  10°  30/  S.  Lat. 
lying  nearly  between  the  Sandwich  and  the  Society 
Islands,  about  2500  miles  S.  S.  E.  of  the  former,  and 
perhaps  1000  N.  E.  of  the  latter. 

In  their  present  state,  these  Islands  produce  pork, 
fowls,  plantains  or  bananas,  yams,  and  some  other 
roots ;  and  like  other  tropical  Isles,  abound  in  the 


4 


MEMOIR  OF 


[4 

bread-fruit,  cocoa-nuts,  &.c.  Taken  collectively,  the 
inhabitants  are  said  to  be  superior  to  all  other  people 
found  in  these  seas;  and  that  for  beauty  of  shape,  and 
regularity  of  features,  they  perhaps  surpass  all  other 
nations.  They  are  commonly  tall,  strong,  and  ex¬ 
tremely  active.  Their  gods  are  very  numerous,  and 
their  religious  ceremonies  are  similar  to  those  formerly 
practised  in  Otaheite  ;  and  their  language,  no  less 
than  their  religion,  proves  them  to  have  once  been  of 
the  same  nation. 

They  are  nominally  governed  by  Chiefs;  though 
these  have  but  little  power,  as  custom  is  generally  fol¬ 
lowed  instead  of  laws.  Their  population  is  estimated 
at  about  50,000. 

Though  some  attempts  have  been  made  to  send  the 
Gospel  to  these  Islands,  they  still  remain  in  all  the 
guilt  and  darkness  of  heathenism.  In  the  year  1796 
the  London  Missionary  Society  instructed  Capt.  Wil 
son,  who  carried  the  Missionaries  to  the  Society  Islands, 
to  establish  a  mission  at  the  Marquesas,  if  he  thought  it 
“  practicable  and  expedient.”  Accordingly  he  reserv¬ 
ed  two  Missionaries,  and  in  June,  1797,  they  arrived  at 
St.  Christina:  but  on  their  arrival,  only  one,  Mr.  Crook, 
was  willing  to  stay.  He  continued  there  a  year,  and 
suffered  considerably,  often  from  hunger.  At  the  end 
of  the  year,  while  on  board  of  a  ship  which  had  touched 
at  the  Island,  he  was  driven  off  by  a  fresh  wind,  and 
was  unable  to  regain  the  shore.  He  ultimately  re¬ 
turned  to  England,  and  the  Mission  was  abandoned. 

In  1822  the  same  Society  sent  the  Rev.  Messrs. 
Tyreman  and  Bennett  to  visit  and  examine  their  Mis¬ 
sionary  stations  at  the  Society  Islands.  These  gen 
tlemen,  some  months  after  their  arrival,  selected  two 


THOMAS  HAMIT  AH  PATOO. 


5 


5] 

pious  Taheitian  Chiefs,  with  their  wives,  with  a  view 
of  establishing  a  mission  at  the  Marquesas,  where  they 
expected  the  vessel  in  which  they  sailed  to  stop,  on 
her  return  from  the  Sandwich  Islands,  to  which  she 
was  then  bound.  On  visiting  those  Islands,  however, 
and  seeing  the  situation  of  the  American  mission  there, 
they  thought  it  expedient  to  have  the  natives,  whom 
they  brought  with  them,  remain  there,  and  thus  relin¬ 
quished  the  mission  at  the  Marquesas  for  the  present. 

Besides  the  subject  of  the  following  Memoir,  two 
other  natives  of  these  Islands  have  been  found  in  our 
country,  and  placed  at  the  Mission  School  at  Cornwall, 
but  having  feeble  health  on  entering  it,  both  soon  died. 

Thomas  Hamitah  Patoo  was  born  about  the  year 
1804.  His  father  seems  to  have  been  one  of  the  prin¬ 
cipal  men  of  the  Island  on  which  he  resided,  as  he  had 
servants  and  property  to  a  considerable  amount.  His 
mother  died  while  he  was  young,  leaving  four  chil¬ 
dren  ;  Thomas,  a  younger  brother,  and  two  sisters. 

As  he  grew  up,  he  became  acquainted  with  Ameri¬ 
cans,  who  occasionally  called  at  the  Island,  and  whose 
conversation  created  in  him  a  strong  desire  to  visit 
America,  and  especially  Boston.  His  father  had  now 
married  a  second  wife.  Thomas  asked  his  permission 
to  go  to  America,  and  on  being  refused,  determined  to 
run  away.  About  the  year  1818  an  American  ship 
lay  off  the  shore  ready  to  sail,  and  he  now  resolved  to 
put  his  design  into  execution.  He  accordingly  went, 
accompanied  by  his  little  brother,  down  to  the  beach, 
under  pretence  of  fishing-.  He  then  sent  his  little  bro¬ 
ther  home,  jumped  into  a  boat  with  some  companions, 
and  paddled  for  the  ship.  Before  they  had  reached 
her  he  saw  his  father  following  in  another  boat  to  bring 


<5 


MEMOIR  OF 


[8 

him  back ;  but  he  was  soon  on  board — the  ship  spread 
her  sails — and  Thomas  saw  his  afflicted  father  at  some 
distance  give  up  his-  pursuit  as  hopeless,  wave  his 
handkerchief  as  a  signal  of  farewell,  and  slowly  return 
toward  the  shore — never  more  to  behold  his  son. 

Thomas  first  landed  at  Hawaii,  where  he  was  em¬ 
ployed  for  several  months  as  one  of  the  king’s  guards. 
He  was  much  doated  on  by  Riho-riho,  who  gave  him 
the  name  of  “  Tahumanu,”  as  an  honorary  title.  Being 
occasionally  treated  with  severity  and  abuse  by  the 
king,  in  his  fits  of  intoxication,  he  became  dissatisfied, 
and  asked  permission  to  leave  the  service.  This  was 
refused,  but  good  treatment  and  wages  were  promised 
in  future.  But  a  favourable  opportunity  soon  offering, 
and  having  previously  concerted  measures  with  his 
companions  who  had  obtained  leave  to  stand  sentinels, 
under  cover  of  night  he  escaped  to  Oahu.  Being  pur¬ 
sued,  he  escaped  in  a  ship  bound  to  Canton,  in  China. 
Here  he  remained  for  some  time,  and  then  sailed  for 
America,  and  arrived  at  Boston  toward  the  close  of  the 
year  1819,  being  not  far  from  15  years  of  age. 

— — 

CHAPTER  II. 

Thomas  found  in  Boston — put  to  a  Sabbath  School— ' 
Goes  to  sea — Narrowly  escapes  death — Sickness  on 
his  return — Removes  to  Coventry ,  Connecticut— 
Object  of  Christian  sympathy  and  exertions . 

In  May,  1820,  as  a  Missionary  in  the  employment  of 
the  “Boston  Female  Society  for  Missionary  purpo¬ 
ses”  was  passing  through  Hamilton-street,  he  noticed 


7]  THOMAS  HAMITAH  PATOO.  7 

Thomas  standing  at  the  gate  of  the  house  at  which  he 
resided.  He  had  stopped  with  a  pail  of  water,  hav¬ 
ing  his  attention  arrested  by  boys  at  play  in  the 
street.  He  was  then  boarding  at  the  house  of  a  friend 
of  the  Captain  with  whom  he  had  arrived. 


The  Missionary  obtained  his  consent  to  be  introdu¬ 
ced  into  a  Sabbath  School,  and  on  the  Sabbath  fol¬ 
lowing  he  was  received  as  a  pupil  by  one  of  the  Di¬ 
rectors.  Here  he  manifested  a  strong  disposition  to 
learn,  and  a  good  capacity ;  for  although  he  did  not 
know  a  letter  at  his  entrance  into  the  School,  yet  he 
was  able,  at  the  close  of  the  first  Sabbath,  to  repeat  the 
entire  alphabet.  He  had,  however,  previously  fallen 
into  the  company  of  vicious  boys,  who  had  made  him 
discontented  with  the  place  where  he  resided ;  and  in 
a  few  weeks,  he  was  engaged  on  board  a  ship  bound  on 
a  Sealing  voyage  to  the  new  South  Shetland  Islands. 
From  that  voyage  he  returned  in  the  year  1821. 

On  the  homeward  passage  of  this  voyage  Thomas 
narrowly  escaped  death.  While  employed  aloft,  the 
shrouds  gave  way,  and  he  was  precipitated  into  the 


$ 


MEMOIR  OF 


E8 

water.  Before  it  was  discovered,  and  the  ship  could 
put  about,  he  was  left  two  miles  behind.  He  had  the 
presence  of  mind  to  take  a  knife  from  his  pocket,  cut 
open,  and  take  off  his  boots,  and  throw  off  his  coat, 
that  he  might  the  more  easily  keep  himself  above  the 
water.  He  was  taken  on  board  as  soon  as  possible, 
but  was  nearly  exhausted. 

Soon  after  his  return  he  met  his  former  Sabbath 
School  Teacher  with  evident  marks  of  joy,  and  pro¬ 
mised  soon  to  call  on  him.  He  was  not  to  be  found, 
however,  until  the  close  of  the  succeeding  winter,  when 
the  same  Instructor  saw  him,  as  he  was  going  to  his 
School  on  the  Sabbath.  Thomas  endeavoured,  at  first, 
to  avoid  his  teacher,  conscious  that  he  had  not  kept  his 
word.  He  had  been  sick  for  several  months  in  the 
Marine  Hospital,  and  now  lived  in  the  family  of  the 
gentleman  in  whose  employment  he  had  performed 
the  late  voyage. 

This  sickness  prevented  his  returning  to  his  native 
country,  which  he  had  intended  to  do  immediately  af¬ 
ter  his  arrival,  in  a  ship  then  ready  to  sail. 

As  it  had  become  evident  that  nothing  could  conve¬ 
niently  be  done  for  his  instruction  while  he  remained 
in  Boston,  in  compliance  with  his  own  wishes,  and  with 
the  approbation  of  the  gentleman  with  whom  he  lived, 
he  was  carried  to  Coventry,  Connecticut.and  placed  in 
the  family  of  a  valuable  member  of  the  church  in  the 
North  Society.  This  was  in  May  1822.  At  the  sug¬ 
gestion  of  his  new  friend,  the  Pastor  and  his  church 
were  requested  to  act  as  his  supervisors.  Thus  he 
was  left  particularly  in  the  charge  of  one  family,  but 
was  commended  to  the  prayers  and  Christian  kindness 
of  the  Pastor  and  the  whole  church. 


THOMAS  HAMITAH  PATOO. 


9 


9J 

This  heathen  youth  of  eighteen,  was  now  standing 
among  them,  and  belonged  to  them.  His  manly  form 
and  open  countenance — the  flush  of  health  playing 
upon  his  dark,  South-sea  face — an  amiable  and  pecu 
liarly  docile  deportment — a  tongue  just  beginning  to 
articulate  his  scanty  ideas — an  understanding  buried 
in  the  darkness  of  ignorance,  and  still  clinging  to  the 
idolatry  of  his  childhood — a  being  lost  by  nature — 
born  among  a  people  to  whom  no  herald  of  mercy  had 
proclaimed  the  Gospel  of  Jesus,  as  in  other  neighbour 
ing  Islands — all  these  associations,  together  with  a 
fresh  remembrance  of  Oobookiah,  united  to  interest 
the  feelings  of  Christians  in  his  behalf. 

Thomas  thus  became  the  object  of  their  special  la¬ 
bors  and  prayers.  He  received  daily  instruction  in 
the  rudiments  of  learning,  as  well  as  on  moral  and  re¬ 
ligious  subjects ;  and  on  the  Sabbath  attended  the 
Sabbath  School.  He  appeared  to  derive  much  satis¬ 
faction  from  his  studies,  and  readily  committed  Hymns 
and  passages  of  Scripture  to  memory,  by  hearing 
others  repeat  them.  On  his  arrival  at  Coventry  in  the 
spring,  he  could  scarcely  repeat  his  alphabet;  but,  by 
fall,  he  could  read  in  the  Testament.  He  had  also  a 
great  facility  in  leaniing  to  perform  manual  J^Jjour. 

The  family  in  which  he  resided,  and  other  Christian 
friends,  made  many  exertions,  during  the  summer,  to 
explain  to  him  the  nature  of  sin;  but  all  their  efforts 
were  unavailing.  The  moral  darkness  of  his  mind — 
his  apparent  want  of  conscience,  and  his  partial  ac¬ 
quaintance  with  our  language,  were  obstacles  seem¬ 
ingly  insuperable.  And  many  who  were  witnesses  of 
these  exertions,  and  who  had  before  given  the  subject 

but  a  hasty  glance,  now  ceased  to  wonder,  that  the 
♦  <1 


MEMOIR  OF 


10 


[10 


good  effects  of  Missionary  labours  among  the  heathen 
are  no  sooner  visible. 

But  in  the  midst  of  all  this  darkness  of  mind,  and 
even  while  Christian  friends  were  concluding  that  Tho¬ 
mas  must  remain  a  heathen,  unaffected  by  the  Gos¬ 
pel,  until  his  understanding  was  further  enlightened. 
God,  by  his  Spirit,  taught  him  what  man  could  not. 


— QsQO— 

CHAPTER  m. 

Revival  of  Religion  commences — Thomas  becomes 
anxious  for  his  soul — Begins  l o  pray — His  conver¬ 
sion — His  own  account  of  it — John  Paru. 

In  the  autumn  of  1822  a  revival  of  religion  com¬ 
menced  in  Coventry.  Some  weeks  after  it  began,  at 
a  social  meeting  for  prayer,  at  sunrise,  it  was  observed 
that  Thomas  was  much  affected,  and  wept  bitterly. 
Christians,  at  that  time,  felt  deeply  anxious  for  the  sal 
vation  of  souls,  and  were  unusually  interested  for 
Thomas,  and  he  was  made  a  subject  of  special  prayer, 
as  he  had  been  frequently,  on  similar  occasions.  At 
the  close  of  the  meeting,  in  conversation  with  the 
pastor  of  the  church,  it  appeared  evident,  by  his  tears 
and  broken  accents  of  alarm,  that  he  felt  some  of  the 
pains  of  a  convicted  sinner. 

But  his  mind  was  easily  diverted  from  spiritual 
things.  At  the  meetings  of  inquiry,  as  they  were  call¬ 
ed,  which  he  frequently  attended — meetings  in  which 
those  who  were  seriously  inquiring,  “  what  must  I  do 
to  be  saved?”  (Acts  xvi.  30.)  met  their  pastor  to  re¬ 
ceive  religious  instruction — when  he  came,  he  would 


11]  THOMAS  HAMITAH  PATOO.  ]] 

appear  cheerful  and  happy ;  but  before  they  closed, 
he  would  generally  be  seen  downcast  and  dejected, 
and  often  weeping. 

For  nearly  two  months  he  continued  in  this  fluctuat¬ 
ing  state  of  mind;  though  he  added  much  to  his  scan¬ 
ty  stock  of  knowledge  on  religious  subjects  during  that 
period. 

He  was  unusually  affected  with  his  condition  as  a 
tinner,  at  a  meeting  of  Inquiry,  on  Saturday  evening, 
Oct.  26.  At  this  meeting,  after  the  Pastor  had  made 
many  searching  and  pungent  remarks,  such  as  that 
the  conditions  of  salvation  are  immutably  fixed,  and 
that  no  man  can  hope  to  be  growing  better  while  he 
retains  a  rebellious  heart,  he  conversed  with  each  per¬ 
son  present,  in  a  low  voice,  and  “  besought  ”  them  to 
be  “  reconciled  to  God.”  The  work  of  repentance, 
he  told  them,  admits  of  no  delay — God  would  accept 
no  excuse  for  deferring  it — every  moment  they  put  it 
off  they  were  increasing  in  sin  and  danger — there  was 
no  way  for  them,  and  no  hope,  but  in  fleeing  to  the 
cross  of  Christ,  and  accepting  of  mercy  as  it  is  offered 
through  him.  Before  the  meeting  was  closed  the 
Pastor  found  that  a  young  man,  who  sat  near  Thomas, 
had  evidently  relinquished  the  grasp  which  his  affec¬ 
tions  had  held  upon  this  world,  and  was  enjoying  the 
consolations  of  religion.  Thomas  was  told  that  J.  B. 
it  was  hoped  had  given  his  heart  to  God,  and  asked 
with  great  urgency  why  he  would  not  give  up  his  heart 
also?  Thomas  felt  that  he  was  without  excuse — he 
wept — and  made  no  reply. 

The  Tuesday  following,  oppressed  by  a  sense  of  his 
wretchedness,  and  ruined  condition,  as  a  sinner,  he 
went  to  visit  a  friend,  in  hope  of  obtaining  some  re- 


12 


MEMOIR  OF 


[12 

lief.  It  was  very  rainy,  yet  he  proceeded,  though  with  a 
trembling  step,  and  a  cheerless  countenance.  Find¬ 
ing  his  friend  absent,  he  next  resolved  to  visit  his 
Pastor. 

On  his  way,  being  unable  to  proceed  by  reason  of 
his  anxiety  for  his  soul,  he  turned  aside,  and  under 
the  covert  of  a  rock,  gave  vent  to  his  feelings  in 


prayer.  This  rock  was  apparently  separated  from 
two  others  by  some  terrible  convulsion  of  the  earth, 
and  in  the  fissure  between  them  did  this  heathen 
plead  for  mercy  before  Christ  his  Redeemer. 

From  this  place  he  proceeded  to  the  house  of  his 
Pastor;  but  before  entering  it  he  went  into  the  barn, 
and  again  knelt  before  God  in  prayer.  With  some 
reluctance  he  entered  the  house,  drenched  by  the  rain, 
with  teai'S  falling  from  his  face,  which  he  vainly  en¬ 
deavoured  to  conceal.  He  was  directed  to  the  study; 
and  of  this  interview  his  Pastor  observes,  “He  was, 
indeed  a  picture  of  distress,  and  his  presence  was  pe¬ 
culiarly  calculated  to  excite  compassion  for  heathen 


THOMAS  HAMITAH  PATOO. 


13 


13] 

youth.  The  Rev.  Mr.  P.  was  with  me.  Thomas,  in 
his  native  simplicity,  made  known  to  us  the  distress 
of  his  soul.  He  was  again  reminded  of  the  hopeful 
conversion  of  J.  B.,  but  this  produced  poignant  grief, 
and  called  forth  the  opposition  of  his  heart  to  the  go¬ 
vernment  of  God.  He  could  not  endure  the  thought 
that  others  should  be  made  the  subjects  of  grace, 
while  he  remained  under  the  dominion  of  sin.  Never 
had  so  good  an  opportunity  been  offered  for  exhibiting 
before  him  the  depravity  of  his  heart,  and  his  desert  of 
hell.  Truth  appeared  to  have  its  desired  effect.  After 
being  assured,  in  various  ways,  that  mere  unwilling¬ 
ness  kept  him  from  Christ,  and  that  he  ought  to  rejoice 
that  J.  B.  had  obtained  a  new  heart,  he  returned  home, 
after  prayer  had  been  offered  on  his  behalf,  with  a  spi¬ 
rit  deeply  wounded.” 

Through  the  ensuing  night  he  was  unable  to  obtain 
rest,  and  on  the  day  following  his  anxiety  continued 
unabated.  He  was  Lemployed  with  another  boy  on 
some  light  labour  in  a  barn,  but  his  distress  was  such 
that  he  could  do  but  little. 

The  light  of  the  Gospel,  which  had  begun  to  shine 
into  his  benighted  mind,  was  still  dim  ;  yet  it  was 
sufficient  to  exhibit  the  wickedness  of  his  heart,  and 
the  requisitions  of  the  law  of  God.  In  the  course  of 
the  afternoon,  having  spent  frequent  seasons  in  prayer, 
his  burdened  conscience  was  relieved,  and  he  found 
peace  in  believing.  At  once  it  became  his  delight  to 
pray,  and  to  think  of  Christ.  He  was  now  disposed 
to  thank  God  for  the  conversion  which  had  occasioned 
him  so  much  pain,  and  to  pray  for  the  salvation  of  all 
men,  particularly  for  his  father  and  countrymen. 
Without  communicating  the  change  in  his  feelings  to 

2* 


H 


MEMOIR  0¥ 


[14 

the  family  where  lie  resided,  he  early  set  out,  the  same 
evening,  to  attend  a  religious  meeting  in  the  neigh¬ 
bourhood.  The  interval  of  time  was  spent  by  him  at 
a  barn  in  prayer.  During  the  meeting,  his  bright 
eyes,  his  almost  smiling  countenance,  and  his  fixed 
attention,  indicated  something  unusual  in  Thomas's 
feelings.  “  This  man  receiveth  sinners”  was  the  text ; 
and  in  this  character  he  was  willing  to  come  to  Christ. 
At  the  close  of  the  meeting  he  took  his  Pastor  and 
the  brethren  by  the  hand,  and  by  a  cordial  shake, 
expressed  the  joy  and  love  which  he  felt,  while  com¬ 
mitting  his  everlasting  all  into  the  hands  of  the  “  man 
Christ  Jesus,”  who  “  receiveth  sinners.” 

At  a  subsequent  religious  meeting,  in  a  remote  part 
of  the  parish,  Thomas  was  permitted  to  speak  a  few 
words  to  the  audience.  They  were  very  animating  to 
Christians,  and  contained  a  powerful  appeal  to  the 
hearts  and  consciences  of  sinners,  and  were  the  means 
of  fixing  impressions  on  the  minds  of  some,  which  is¬ 
sued,  as  it  is  hoped,  in  true  conversion  to  God.  At  the 
close  of  this  meeting, Thomas  found  there  was  a  decid¬ 
ed  difference  of  feeliug  exercised  towards  him  by 
Christians  and  impenitent  sinners.  The  latter  did  not 
greet  him  with  that  cordiality,  nor  were  they  ready  to 
take  his  hand  with  the  affection  of  the  former.  Even 
his  untutored  mind  noticed  this  difference,  and  ever 
afterwards  he  viewed  this  as  a  criterion  by  which  to 
judge  of  moral  character. 

It  may  add  to  the  interest  in  the  above  account  of 
bis  religious  exercises,  to  give  it  in  his  own  words.  It 
was  principally  committed  to  writing  at  the  time  of  his 
giving  the  relation,  his  own  idiom  being  generally  pre¬ 
served. 


THOMAS  HAMITAH  PATOO. 


15 


15] 

Question.  Thomas,  what  was  the  state  of  your  mind 
after  the  commencement  of  the  revival  in  Coventry  1 

Answer.  Christians  talk  to  me  great  deal  about  my 
bad  heart.  Me  think  my  heart  good  enough. 

Q.  Did  you  then  endeavour  to  pray  ? 

A.  Mrs.  T.  teach  me  to  say  Lord’s  prayer.  I  think 
me  got  no  mother,  no  father,  no  sister,  no  brother  here, 
— and  Mrs.  T.  good  to  me,  so  1  do  as  she  tell  me.  Then 
i  kneel  down  before  I  go  to  bed,  and  say  prayer. 

Q.  Did  you  occasionally  omit  this  duty  ? 

A.  Sometimes.  Then  Deacon  T.  say  you  must  say 
your  prayers,  Thomas,  every  night.  Then  me  go  pray 
mad.  [i.  e.  angry,  or  cross.] 

Q.  Had  you  any  different  feelings  at  the  morning 
prayer  meeting,  at  which  you  wept  ? 

A.  Then  me  feel  heavy — feel  afraid  to  die — feel  sor¬ 
ry  for  my  sin.  Me  try  to  pray,  “  Our  Father.”  Me  go 
home,  think  what  Minister  say,  then  I  pray.  Next  day 
forget  it  all — then  feel  light. 

Q.  When  you  went  to  the  inquiring  meetings,  how 
did  you  feel. 

A.  I  feel  good  some — then  I  feel  heavy  again. 
When  minister  say  all  about  poor  sinner — then  I  feel 
sorry. 

Q.  What  were  your  feelings  at  the  meeting  for  in¬ 
quiry  on  the  Sabbath  evening? 

A.  Heart  feel  hard.  Somebody  tell  me  J.  B.  got 
a  new  heart.  I  feel  angry. 

Q.  How  did  you  spend  the  Tuesday  following  ? 

A.  Me  want  to  'see  Minister.  I  set  out — go  part 
way,  feel  so  bad  can  go  no  further — then  kneel  down 
by  a  great  rock  and  pray.  Me  say,  O  Lord,  have 
mercy  on  poor  Thomas,  poor  heathen — give  him  new 


16 


MEMOIR  OF 


[16 

heart — take  away  his  old  heart — 0  give  him  new 
heart  now.  Then  I  go  on.  Go  in  Minister’s  barn — 
Traid  to  go  in  house — then  I  pray  again.  Then  look 
round  and  say,  God  make  this  hay — this  grain — all 
these  things — why  can’t  God  make  me  new  heart.  Me 
wipe  tears  off  my  cheeks,  but  they  come  again.  Then 
go  in  house.  Mrs.  C.  say,  what  the  matter,  Thomas, 
you  hurt  you?  I  so  ’shamed,  me  say,  0  it  rains  out 
doors.  Want  to  have  her  think  it  rain  on  my  face. 

Q.  What  did  you  say  to  the  Ministers  in  the  study  ? 

A.  Me  say,  got  that  bad  heart,  yet. 

Q.  Did  you  feel  glad  when  told  that  J.  B.  had  a 
new  heart  ? 

A.  No,  sir,  me  feel  bad — me  feel  very  heavy — me 
want  to  come  fast,  before  any  body  get  in.  When  me 
go  away,  hope  me  come  to  be  like  J.  B. 

Q.  How  did  you  feel  that  night  and  the  day  fol¬ 
lowing  ? 

A.  That  night  me  feel  heavy — heavy  all  over.  Eyes 
all  tears — could  no  sleep.  Next  day  feel  so  all  time 
Afternoon  go  work  in  barn  with  W. — could  no  work. 
Feel  me  want  to  pray.  Tell  W.  we  kneel  down.  Then 
me  say,  0  Lord  have  mercy  on  poor  Thomas,  poor 
W. — give  us  new  hearts.  Then  me  think  about  Jesus 
Christ,  and  about  Christian  folks.  Me  never  feel  so 
before.  Heavy  all  gone.  Then  me  love  to  pray,  and 
say  Our  Father,  and  thank  great  God  he  give  J.  B.  a 
new  heart.  Then  me  think  me  feel  to  love  Christ — 
me  want  to  shake  hand  with  him — me  go  up  hay  mow 
to  find  him — pray  to  him.  Then  me  think  Christ 
every  where.  Then  come  down. 

Q.  W’hat  were  your  feelings  during  the  meeting  in 
the  evening  ? 


S7]  THOMAS  HAMITAH  PATOO.  17 

A.  Me  want  to  shake  hand  with  the  Minister,  then 
feel  to  love  all  Christians. 

Q.  How  do  you  think  you  know  a  Christian  from 
an  impenitent  sinner  when  you  meet  them  ? 

A.  Christian  shake  hand  hard — his  hand  feel  warm 
— the  sinner  no  shake  hand.  He  keep  hand  close  to 
body. 

Q.  What  do  you  mean  by  a  new  heart  ? 

A.  A  heart  that  feel  to  love  good  thought. 

Q.  How  do  you  know  your  heart  to  be  soft  now  ? 

A.  Why,  me  no  feel  mad  to  any  body  ;  if  man  strike 
me,  1  no  want  to  strike  him  back  again. 

After  his  conversion  his  advancement  in  divine 
knowledge  was  rapid.  The  Holy  Spirit  seemed  to 
teach  him  to  understand  the  truths  of  God,  and  as  far 
as  understood,  they  evidently  produced  the  fruits  of 
holiness.  His  religious  feelings  were  continually  be¬ 
coming  more  steady  and  substantial,  yet  always  of  the 
most  ardent  kind.  He  learned  to  apply  the  simple 
doctrines  of  the  Gospel  in  their  proper  place,  both  for 
his  own  good  and  that  of  others. 

At  the  time  that  Thomas  indulged  a  hope,  Johra 


ii* 


18 


MEMOIR  OF 


[18 

Paru,  (now  Samuel  J.  Mills,)  a  native  of  Oahu,  one  of 
the  Sandwich  Islands,  was  residing  in  the  same  town 
With  him  his  exertions  were  unremitted,  that  he,  too, 
might  become  a  disciple  of  Christ.  They  often  con¬ 
versed  and  prayed  together,  and  both  soon  rejoiced  in 
hope.  His  conversations  w  ith  John,  while  under  the 
strivings  of  the  Spirit,  were  of  the  most  persuasive 
and  affectionate  kind,  and  were  probably  the  principal 
instruments  of  bringing  him  to  the  light  and  liberty  of 
the  Gospel. 

He  had  a  great  desire  to  unite  with  the  church  in 
Coventry  at  the  approaching  communion  in  January, 
when  several,  who  with  him  had  often  attended  the 
meeting  for  inquiry,  and  the  circle  of  prayer,  were  to 
make  a  profession  of  religion.  After  deliberation,  it 
was  thought  proper  that  he  should  be  propounded 
with  others  for  admission  into  the  church,  though  it 
was  not  fully  determined  to  receive  him  at  that  time. 
Before  the  day  arrived,  at  the  suggestion  of  a  friend 
and  patron  at  a  distance,  in  view  of  all  circumstances, 
it  was  thought  best  that  his  admission  be  deferred  for 
a  time.  Not  that  any  doubted  as  to  his  piety,  as  far 
as  the  nature  of  the  case  would  admit. 

This  delay  seemed  a  severe  trial  to  Thomas.  Though 
willing  to  be  under  the  direction  of  his  patron,  and 
Christian  friends,  yet  it  evidently  cost  him  many 
struggles  before  he  could  bring  his  mind  cordially  to 
submit.  When  told  by  his  Pastor  that  it  was  judged 
expedient  for  him  to  delay  uniting  with  the  church, 
411  he  had  obtained  more  knowledge  on  the  subject  of 
religion,  he  replied  with  great  feeling.  “  If,  Sir,  you 
think  best,  then  me  wait;  but,  may  be,  me  die  soon — 
then  me  never  own  Christ  before  men!" 


191 


THOMAS  HAM1TAH  PATOO. 


19 


CHAPTER  nr. 

His  Christian  character — Anxiety  for  the  impenitent — 
Exertions  in  their  behalf. 

The  Christian  character  of  Thomas  was  highly  exem¬ 
plary.  A  few  additional  circumstances,  illustrating 
different  traits  in  his  character,  will  here  be  intro¬ 
duced. 

Once,  on  being  asked  how  he  conducted  when  he 
felt  conscious  of  having  done  wrong,  he  replied,  “I  go 
kneel  down  before  the  great  God,  just  as  me  would 
come  to  you,  and  ask  him  to  have  mercy  on  poor  Tho¬ 
mas,  poor  heathen,  and  forgive  him  his  sin.”  It  was 
his  delight  to  spell  and  study  out  the  truths  of  the  Bi¬ 
ble.  On  opening  it  one  day,  he  read,  “  O  praise  the 
Lord,  for  he  is  good,  for  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever:” 
then  closing  it,  with  a  countenance  full  of  expression 
he  said,  “O  this — how  good.”  Of  those  who  were 
not  Christians,  he  would  say — “what!  have  Bible  so 
long,  and  no  Christians  yet!” 

He  loved,  as  he  expressed  it,  animate  and  inanimate 
objects,  simply  because  God  made  them.  Often  has 
he  been  seen  gazing  at  a  stone,  and  saying,  “this  good, 
because  God  make  it.”  While  descending  a  steep  hill 
once,  his  companion  remarked,  “this  is  a  bad  hill.” 
Thomas  replied,  “why  say  bad  hill?  This  no  bad. 
God  make  this  hill.  All  God  make,  good.” 

He  was  ever  affected  when  thinking  on  the  danger 
of  the  impenitent.  One  day,  during  the  winter  follow¬ 
ing  his  conversion,  while  at  school,  he  v/as  observed 
to  be  weeping.  Being  asked  what  was  the  matter,  he 


MEMOIR  OF 


2A 


[20 


cast  his  eyes  round  the  school,  with  tears  still  dropping 
from  his  face,  and  exclaimed,  “  0  these  poor  chil¬ 
dren  !”  and  he  spake  with  a  feeling  that  might  reprove 
thousands  who  have  always  had  the  Gospel,  and  yet 
manifest  a  cold  indifference  to  those  who  never  heard 
of  it.  He  would  improve  all  proper  occasions  in  en¬ 
deavouring  to  persuade  the  impenitent  to  give  Christ 
the  affections  of  their  hearts  ;  and  in  many  instances 
his  simple  and  affectionate  exhortations  would  find  a 
way  to  the  heart  where  the  exertions  of  Ministers  and 
private  Christians  had  seemed  to  be  in  vain. 

Thomas  was  frequent  and  importunate  in  prayer. 
Often,  while  he  resided  at  Coventry,  was  he  overheard 
praying  in  the  most  earnest  manner  for  the  heathen, 
and  for  sinners  generally.  He  was  sometimes  asked 
to  lead  in  the  devotions  of  a  family,  which  he  did  with 
great  propriety.  Here,  too,  his  petitions  were  prin¬ 
cipally  for  the  heathen,  particularly  for  his  own  rela¬ 
tives  and  countrymen,  and  for  the  impenitent  in  Chris¬ 
tian  lands.  He  would  often  go  aside  with  the  lads  of 
the  neighbourhood,  and,  after  an  affectionate  exhorta¬ 
tion,  would  kneel  with  them  before  God,  and  suppli¬ 
cate  mercy  for  their  souls. 

The  following  was  communicated  by  a  young  lady, 
who,  at  the  time  alluded  to,  had  long  been  under  con¬ 
victions  for  sin,  and  was  then  cherishing  a  rebellious 
heart.  A  younger  sister  had  been,  a  short  time  pre¬ 
vious,  hopefully  converted  to  Christ. 

“  After  our  friend  Thomas  was  brought  to  indulge 
a  hope  in  the  renewing  grace  of  God,  [  endeavoured  to 
avoid  him  as  much  as  possible,  and  it  was  not  until  after 
C.  had  expressed  a  hope,  that  Thomas  addressed  me  on 
the  concerns  of  my  soul.  After  conversing  with  her, 


21] 


THOMAS  HAMITAH  PATOO.' 


21 


and  expressing  much  joy  because  1  she  got  a  new 
heart,’  he  turned  tome  and  said,  *  N — ,  why  you  no 
give  up  that  bad  heart — why  you  no  come  with  C. 
and  be  a  good  Christian  ?  Me  want  you  be  a  Chris¬ 
tian  too.’  In  order  to  evade  what  he  said,  and  pre¬ 
vent  his  saying  more,  I  replied  to  him,  ‘  Thomas,  why 
did  you  never  speak  to  me  about  these  things  before  ? 
Perhaps  had  you  been  as  faithful  in  talking  to  me  as 
you  have  been  to  C.  I  too  should  have  had  a  new 
heart.’  With  the  deepest  sorrow  depicted  on  his 
countenance,  he  replied,  ‘  N — ,  me  very  sorry  me  no 
talk  to  you  before.  Me  pray  for  you  before,  and  now 
me  talk  to  you.’  After  this  Thomas  embraced  every 
opportunity  of  urging  upon  me  immediate  submission 
to  Christ,  and  that,  too,  in  the  most  affectionate  man¬ 
ner.  Among  the  many  interviews  which  I  had  with 
Thomas,  I  will  mention  one,  the  impression  of  which 
will  continue  so  long  as  memory  retains  her  powers. 
It  was  in  the  height  of  the  revival,  when  a  number  of 
Christian  friends  were  spending  the  day  at  our  house, 
and  others  were  calling.  Feeling  no  disposition  to 
mingle  with  them,  I  retired  to  another  room,  and 
there  staid  meditating  on  my  helpless  and  hopeless 
condition.  It  was  not  long  before  some  one  rapped 
at  the  door,  and  who  was  it  but  Thomas  !  He  imme¬ 
diately  began,  in  the  most  feeling  manner,  to  entreat 
me  to  submit  to  Christ  without  delay.  *  Christ  ready 
to  receive  you— rail  the  good  Christians  want  you  to 
come — angel  in  heaven  ready  to  rejoice  over  you — 
why  you  no  come  V  After  conversing  in  this  manner 
for  some  minutes,  he  was  silent.  At  length,  looking 
at  me  most  expressively,  he  said,  ‘  me  sorry  me  no 
converse  with  you  before.  Me  pray  for  you ;  me 


22  MEMOIR  OF  [22 

want  to  pray  with  you.’  We  knelt,  and  Thomas 
poured  forth  the  feelings  of  his  pious  soul  in  language 
like  this  :  ‘  0  mercy,  Father,  have  mercy  on  us  sinners. 
Have  mercy  on  this  friend.  Pray  this  friend  may  now 
give  up  that  bad  heart  to  Christ,  and  not  go  to  hell,’ 
&.C.  This  was  the  burthen  of  his  prayer,  that  I  might 
then  submit  to  Christ.  I  will  leaveothers  to  judge  what 
were  my  feelings  to  have  this  heathen,  who  had  but 
just  learned  there  was  a  God,  on  his  knees  pleading 
for  mercy  on  me,  a  stubborn  sinner,  hardened  under 
the  meridian  light  of  the  Gospel.” 

Thomas  expressed  great  joy  on  being  told,  from 
time  to  time,  of  the  conversion  of  particular  indi¬ 
viduals  of  his  acquaintance.  Among  others  he  had 
become  much  interested  in  behalf  of  a  young  gentle¬ 
man  from  a  neighbouring  town,  who  was  engaged  in 
teaching  a  school.  Speaking  of  him,  Thomas  said, 
11  That  Schoolmaster  feel  very  bad.  Me  talk  with  him 
yesterday.  Me  say,  how  you  feel  to-day,  Sa  ?  He 
say,  ‘I  feel  I  am  a  great  sinner.  Thomas,  will  you 
pray  for  me?’  I  say,  I  will  pray  for  you,  Sa,  but  you 
must  go  to  Jesus  Christ,  and  give  him  your  bad  heart. 
Me  did  pray  for  him — me  so  sorry  for  him — he  feel 
so  heavy.  Me  think  he  will  give  up  that  bad  heart 
pretty  soon.” 

Being  afterwards  told,  on  the  same  day,  that  this 
individual  was  rejoicing  in  hope,  he  broke  out  in  rap¬ 
tures  of  joy  ;  “  me  so  glad,  me  so  glad,  me  thought 
he  would  come,”  and  added  to  the  expressiveness  of 
his  words  by  his  looks  and  gestures. 


23] 


THOMAS  HAMITAH  PATOO. 


23 


CHAPTER  ST. 

'Thomas  enters  the  School  at  Cornwall — His  journey 
there — His  letter — His  Christian  conduct  before  his 
sickness — His  disposition — His  sickness — His  resigna¬ 
tion — Anxiety  for  his  countrymen — His  death — Mo¬ 
nument — Conclusion. 

In  March,  1823,  after  making  good  proficiency  in  a 
common  school  in  Coventry,  and  giving  increasing 
evidence  of  piety,  Thomas,  in  company  with  John 
Paru,  was  removed  to  the  Foreign  Mission  School  in 
Cornwall.  He  parted  with  his  friends  with  reluctance, 
and  not  without  the  warmest  mutual  expressions  of 
Christian  affection.  But  he  now  indulged  the  hope  of 
being  one  day  prepared  to  carry  the  Gospel  to  his 
heathen  countrymen  ;  and  this  consideration  raised 
him  above  all  the  trials  of  separating  from  his  dearest 
friends.  On  the  journey  he  received  many  kind  at¬ 
tentions  from  Christian  friends,  and  one  evening,  at 
their  request,  addressed  a  respectable  audience  in  a 
conference-room,  with  great  propriety.  As  he  passed 
near  the  residence  of  the  Rev.  S.  J.  Mills,  of  Tor- 
ringford,  he  expressed  a  wish  to  see  this  father  or 
Henry  Oobookiah.  The  short  interview  was  spent 
principally  in  listening  with  deep  interest  to  the  story 
which  this  aged  father  repeated  of  that  lamented  hea¬ 
then  convert. 

Previously  to  his  entering  the  village  of  Cornwall 
Thomas  visited  the  grave  of  Oobookiah.  The  visit 
evidently  produced  solemn  and  affecting  sensations  iu 


24  memoir  or  [24 

his  mind.  While  he  stood  with  the  most  fixed  silent 
attention,  the  inscription  on  the  monument  was  read 


to  him.  He  then  pointed  to  its  side,  with  apparently 
deep  thought,  and  said — “  May  be  I  lie  here  too !” 

When  asked  if  he  was  willing  to  die  and  sleep  with 
Oobookiah,  he  submitted  all  to  the  pleasure  of  God, 
though  it  seemed  his  ardent  desire  to  tell  his  country-* 
men  about  the  Saviour ;  still  he  wished  to  leave  all  iq 
the  hands  of  God,  assured  that  he  would  certainly  da 
right. 


25] 


THOMAS  HAMITAH  PATOO. 


26 


CORN'WA'LIi  SCHOOL  HOUSE. 


He  entered  the  School  at  Cornwall  on  the  8th  of 
March.  On  the  30th  he  directed  his  first  and  only 
letter  to  a  friend  in  Coventry,  of  which  the  following 
is  an  extract.  The  person  who  assisted  Thomas  in 
writing-  the  letter  is  an  Anglo-American,  and  a  mem¬ 
ber  of  the  F.  M.  School.  He  states  that  the  ideas  of 
the  letter  are  entirely  those  of  Thomas,  as  are  also  the 
words,  as  nearly  as  they  could  be  expressed  and  make 
good  sense. 


“  My  dear  Christian  Friend, 

“  I  have  received  your  very  kind  letter,  and  am 
now  happy  to  answer  it.  I  have  employed  one  of  my 
brothers  here  to  write  for  me,  because  I  can’t  write 
quite  well  enough  yet.  I  tell  him  what  to  write,  so  the 
word  be  some  like  Thomas.  I  very  glad  the  great  God 
in  heaven  make  the  Coventry  people  pray  for  poor 
heathen  where  there  is  no  Saviour.  I  think  they  pray 
for  me  too,  that  I  be  prepared  to  tell  the  heathen  all 

3 


26 


MEMOIR  OE 


[26 

about  the  great  God,  and  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.  I 
rejoice  a  great  deal  to  hear  about  sinner  come  to  Christ, 
and  get  a  new  heart.  I  hope  the  good  work  continue 
always  among  you,  so  I  rejoice  always  The  folks 
here  have  no  revival — no  pray  enough.  I  sorry;  l 
hope  we  pray  enough  by-by.  We  have  good  many 
meetings,  but  no  feel. 

“  I  hope  I  go  home  by-by,  and  have  sinner  come  to 

God  in  my  country.  Yes,  my  dear  Mr.  - ,  1  go,  if 

I  live  to  be  ready.  We  have  some  scholars  no  love 
the  Saviour.  I  tell  them  they  must  be  born  again  or 
go  to  hell.  1  talk  to  some  sinner  all  about  they  no 
come  to  Christ.  1  tell  them  I  come  away  from  hea¬ 
then  land,  and  find  a  good  Saviour,  they  been  here  so 
long,  and  no  come  to  Christ. 

“  You  must  pray  a  great  deal  for  poor  sinners  in 
Cornwall  School.  May  be  we  have  a  revival  here, 
and  when  they  come  and  learn  to  love  God,  they  go 
to  their  friends,  and  tell  how  to  be  saved  by  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ. 

“  I  must  close  now.  I  think  I  pray  every  day  for 
you  and  all  my  friends.  0  may  God  bless  you  and 
make  you  do  good  while  you  live,  and  when  you  and 
I  die  may  we  meet  and  shake  hand  in  the  heavens, 
and  we  stay  always  with  our  Saviour  and  all  his  good 
friends. 

“  I  remain  your  true  friend, 

‘Thomas  H.  Patoo.” 

Thomas  soon  became  much  attached  to  the  person 
who  assisted  him  to  write  the  above,  and  from  him  the 
following  extract  was  received,  dated  October  10, 1823. 

“  Thomas  came  to  this  place,  as  you  well  know 


THOMAS  HAMITAH  PATOO. 


27 


27] 

with  his  heart  warmly  engaged  in  the  cause  of  Christ. 
I  soon  entered  into  a  familiar  acquaintance  with  him, 
which  was  cemented  by  the  bond  of  Christian  affec¬ 
tion,  mutually  cherished  while  he  was  permitted  to 
dwell  among  us.  From  a  conviction  that  I  would  go 
to  the  Marquesas,  he  wished  to  be  with  me  frequently, 
and  finding  it  difficult  to  speak  my  name,  he  would 
substitute  ‘  my  Missionary.’  I  made  several  visits 
with  him,  that  he  might  become  acquainted  with  the 
people  here.  His  conversation  was  always  on  the 
subject  of  religion,  and  his  heart  apparently  set  on 
doing  good.  He  would  talk  with  much  feeling  to  any 
one  who  had  no  hope  in  Christ.  He  would  relate  to 
them  the  story  of  his  salvation  with  Christian  simpli¬ 
city,  and  urge  the  willingness  of  Christ  to  save  other 
sinners  as  a  reason  why  sinners  here  should  come  to 
him.  Whenever  he  saw  any  one,  he  had  a  desire  to 
know  whether  that  person  loved  God  and  trusted  in 
Christ.  He  frequently  spoke  of  the  wretched  condi¬ 
tion  of  the  heathen.  He  firmly  believed  that  they 
would  be  lost  for  ever  without  the  Gospel  of  Christ. 
He  wished  to  be  prepared  to  teach  his  ignorant  coun¬ 
trymen  the  way  to  heaven.  Often  have  I  heard  him 
speak  of  the  crooked  course  he  had  pursued  to  come 
to  this  Gospel  land,  and  he  would  always  subjoin, 
‘  the  Lord  brought  me  over  so  many  seas  and  moun¬ 
tains  to  find  the  Saviour.’  He  was  a  member  of  this 
School  a  little  more  than  three  months  ;  was  very  at¬ 
tentive  to  his  studies  while  in  health,  and  made  good 
progress  for  the  short  time  he  was  permitted  to  enjoy 
the  means  of  instruction. 

“  From  personal  and  critical  observation,  I  can  say 
that  his  walk,  both  in  public  and  private,  was  worthy 


28  MEMOIR  OP  [28 

4 

of  the  Christian  name.  He  had  a  high  respect  for  the 
Sabbath,  and  would  modestly  reprove  those  who  asked 
him  questions  on  worldly  subjects,  while  he  refused  to 
answer  them  on  that  holy  day. 

“  His  temper  was  amiable.  Though  at  times  he 
suffered  some  ill-treatment  in  consequence  of  being 
importunate  in  private  exhortation,  still  he  maintained 
Christian  fortitude  and  dignity.  Instead  of  its  abating 
his  zeal,  it  increased  his  anxiety  for  the  salvation  of 
souls. 

But  1  hasten  to  mention  the  circumstances  attending 
his  last  illness  and  death.  He  was  first  taken  sick 
about  two  weeks  previous  to  our  annual  exhibition  in 
May  last,  but  recovered  so  that  at  that  time  he  was 
thought  to  be  gaining.  But  he  was  soon  taken  down 
again,  and  continued  to  decline  fast.  I  attended  him 
daily,  from  this  time,  until  he  died.  His  disease  ren¬ 
dered  his  situation  quite  distressing.  He  was  in  con¬ 
stant  pain,  and  a  soreness  in  his  throat  was  followed 
by  a  hoarseness  which  never  left  him.  He  was  sub¬ 
missive  under  his  trials,  and  ever  ready  to  acknow¬ 
ledge  the  hand  of  God  in  them.  I  never  witnessed  a 
person  so  much  composed  and  comforted  in  the  hour 
of  distress,  from  the  consideration  that  the  Lord 
reigneth.  He  had  learned  the  cheering  doctrine  that 
God  would  be  glorified  let  what  would  take  place, 
sickness  or  health,  life  or  death.  He  conversed  freely 
with  his  friends  who  called  to  see  him,  and  would  often 
say,  ‘  God  make  sick,  and  he  make  well.  He  do  right 
— he  always  do  good.’  At  times  he  was  rather  in¬ 
clined  to  look  at  the  dark  side  of  things.  *  I  want  to 
live  and  go  to  Marquesas,  and  tell  my  poor  father,  and 
all  my  poor  countrymen,  about  Christ.  They  no  heat 


THOMAS  HAMITAH  PATOO. 


29 


29] 


about  good  things.  O  what  become  of  my  poor  coun¬ 
trymen  when  I  die !’  He  soon,  however,  turned  his 
thoughts  on  God,  and  said,  1  God  do  right.  We  no 
understand  all  he  do  now,  but  we  understand  here¬ 
after.’  About  two  weeks  before  his  death  he  was  con¬ 
fined  to  his  bed,  and  gave  up  all  hope  of  living  more 
than  a  few  days.  He  frequently  wished  me  and  others 
to  pray  with  him,  and  he  prayed  much  himself.  But 
his  prayers  were  not  generally  for  his  own  wants.  In 
his  anxiety  for  sinners,  and  especially  for  the  heathen, 
he  would  seem  to  forget  his  own  situation.  His  pain 
of  body  at  times  was  extreme,  and  he  would  think 
himself  near  his  end ;  yet  he  appeared  prepared  to 
meet  his  God.  He  felt  such  confidence  in  his  Saviour 
that  he  was  willing  to  launch  into  the  eternal  world, 
leaning  on  the  bosom  of  this  Almighty  friend.  He 
prayed  almost  every  time  I  left  him  alone.  At  one 
time  I  overheard  him  praying  partly  in  his  own  lan¬ 
guage  and  partly  in  English.  He  was  interceding  for 
his  father  and  countrymen.  He  stopped  two  or  three 
times,  and  exclaimed,  1  who  go  teach  my  poor  father 
when  I  die  ? — He  no  hear  about  Christ ;  what  become 
of  his  poor  soul  ?  Who  go  teach  my  countrymen,  who 
ignorant,  and  no  hear  about  God  and  the  Saviour?’ 

“  These  words  sunk  deep  into  my  heart.  Those 
solemn  moments,  and  more  solemn  considerations, 
will  never  be  forgotten.  To  hear  a  poor  heathen 
pleading  for  the  salvation  of  his  pagan  brethren,  and, 
from  the  confines  of  the  grave  and  the  eternal  world, 
ask  God  who  would  go  and  carry  to  them  the  glad 
tidings  of  salvation,  was  truly  affecting.  Can  the 
friends  of  Jesus  hear  the  question  and  not  answer? 
Will  not  their  prayers  ascend  with  those  of  Thomas 


MEMOIR  OF 


30 


[30 


to  the  Father  of  mercies,  and  will  not  their  exertions 
correspond  with  these  prayers  ? 

“  As  soon  as  prudent  I  entered  the  room.  Thomas 
seized  my  hand,  and  said,  ‘  what  you  do  when  I  die  ? 
You  go  teach  my  countrymen  about  Christ  V  Ire- 
plied  that  I  could  not  promise  that  I  would  go,  but 
waved  the  subject  by  saying,  some  one  will  go.  He 
quickly  added,  *  find  my  father,  and  tell  him  all  about 
Christ.  His  name  is  Tyer,  and  he  lives  at  a  place 
called  Hah-nah-tel-dh-pah.’  He  made  the  same  request 
of  Samuel  J.  Mills,  and  would  not  be  satisfied  until  he 
had  promised  that,  should  God  permit  him  to  return, 
he  would  comply  with  his  wishes.  This  was  two  days 
before  his  death.  On  the  next  morning  he  conversed 
with  a  friend  respecting  his  situation.  He  said,  ‘  my 
body  very  sick,  in  great  distress  ;  but  my  soul  rejoice 
all  the  time,  very  happy.’  Soon  after,  with  a  happy 
expression  cf  countenance,  he  exclaimed,  *  0  I  want 
to  die,  I  want  to  go  to  Heaven !’  He  sat  up  on  the 
side  of  his  bed  several  times  during  the  day,  support¬ 
ing  himself  with  one  arm  around  my  neck.  He  spoke 


31]  THOMAS  HAMITAH  PATOO.  33 

frequently  of  his  friends  in  Boston  and  Coventry,  and 
wished  me  to  write  to  them  after  his  death,  and  re¬ 
member  him  to  all  his  friends,  many  of  whom  he  men¬ 
tioned  by  name.  At  evening  his  eyesight  failed  him,, 
so  that  he  could  distinguish  one  person  from  another 
only  by  their  voices,  yet  his  reason  appeared  unim¬ 
paired.  S.  J.  Mills  came  to  the  bed-side,  to  sympa¬ 
thize  with  him  in  his  sufferings.  Thomas  remarked, 
‘  hard  to  lie  here  so  sick,  but  I  di.e  to-night  or  in  the 
morning,  then  God  make  my  bed  in  heaven.’ 

“  About  nine  o’clock  a  young  man  came  in  to  see 
him.  On  being  told  who  had  come,  he  shook  hands 
and  said,  ‘  I  hope  we  meet  in  heaven.’  He  continued 
to  talk  and  pray  at  intervals  until  between  one  and  two, 
and  to  breathe  until  five  o’clock  in  the  morning  of 
June  9th,  when  he  took  his  long  farewell  of  these  mor 
tal  shores,  we  trust  to  dwell  with  Jesus  in  glory.  Thus 
lived  and  thus  died  our  dear  brother  Thomas.” 

His  funeral  was  attended  on  the  succeeding  day  in 
the  morning.  Some  remarks  were  made,  accom¬ 
panied  with  an  address  to  the  members  of  the  school, 
from  these  words:  “  The  Lord  reigneth,  let  the  earth 
rejoice.”  It  was  said  that  notwithstanding  the  event 
which  had  called  them  together  was  dark  and  myste¬ 
rious,  still  there  was  no  less  cause  for  every  Christian 
to  rejoice  that  the  Lord  reigns.  “  The  Providence  is 
mysterious,  because  this  is  the  third  Marquesian  which 
has  been  removed  from  this  school  by  death.  Now 
none  remain.  Must  we  then  conclude  that  God  de¬ 
signs  to  leave  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  Marquesas  to 
perish  without  the  Gospel?  By  no  means.  From  the 
conversion  and  prayers  of  this  youth,  as  well  as  from 
the  promises  of  God,  his  people  have  every  encou 


32 


MEMOIR  OF 


[32 

ragement  to  hope  that  there  is  still  mercy  in  store  for 
these  benighted  people.  Let  them  awake  to  more  vi¬ 
gorous  exertions,  and  to  more  ardent  and  persevering 
prayer  that  God  would  influence  and  prepare  others, 
and  open  to  them  a  way  of  entrance,  that  the  Gospel 
of  Jesus  may  be  proclaimed  to  the  relatives  of  our  de¬ 
parted  friend,  and  to  those  50,000  immortal  beings 
who  are  now  perishing  in  their  sins.  Then  may  we 
hope  that  there,  too,  cruel  superstitions  will  be  abo¬ 
lished,  idols  destroyed,  and  a  nation  be  born  to  God 
in  a  day.” 

The  remains  of  Thomas  were  committed  to  the 
grave  near  those  of  his  two  countrymen  and  Ooboo- 
kiah.  Over  them  a  plain  monument  is  now  erected, 
with  this  inscription  : 

OF 

THOMAS  HAMIT  AH  PATOO, 

A  NATIVE  OF 

THE  MARQUESAS  ISLAJNDS, 

AND  A  MEMBER  OF  THE  FOREIGN  MISSION 

SCHOOL  ; 

WHO  DIED  JUNE  19,  1823, 

Aged  about  19  years. 

“  He  was  hopefully  pious,  and  had  a  great  desire  to 
be  qualified  to  become  a  Missionary  to  his  ignorant 
countrymen.  But  he  died  in  hope  of  a  better  country. 
This  stone  is  erected  by  the  liberality  of  his  friends  in 
N.  Coventry,  Conn,  among  whom  he  first  found  the 
Saviour  of  sinners.” 


33]  THOMAS  HAMITAH  PATOO.  33 

To  his  friends  in  Coventry  the  death  of  Thomas 
was  a  most  trying  dispensation.  When  the  news  was 
first  communicated  in  a  religious  assembly,  there  was 
the  solemn  stillness  of  the  grave.  Scarcely  an  eye 
refused  to  bear  witness,  by  tears,  that  Thomas  was 
beloved.  His  friends  loved  him  for  his  amiable  de¬ 
portment,  and  for  his  ardent  attachment  to  the  cause 
of  Christ,  and  their  expectations  and  hopes  of  his  fu¬ 
ture  usefulness  among  the  heathen  were  justly  very 
high.  To  have  all  these  at  once  blasted,  and  their 
friend  no  more,  produced  a  thrill  of  deep  sorrow  in 
every  bosom.  But  they  were  led  to  reflect  that  it  was 
the  hand  of  the  same  Almighty  Being  who  has  pro¬ 
mised  the  Son  “  the  heathen  for  his  inheritance,  and 
the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth  for  his  possession,” 
and  that  he  would,  in  some  way  more  for  his  own 
glory,  communicate  the  news  of  a  Saviour  to  the 
countrymen  of  their  departed  friend  ;  and  they  could 
only  say, 

“  Heaven  thought  it  best,  and  at  thy  feet, 

11  Great  God,  in  silence  we  submit.” 

Such  was  the  life,  and  such  the  character  of  Thomas 
Hamitah  Patoo  ;  a  pattern  of  Christian  exertions  in 
health,  of  calm  resignation  in  sickness,  and  of  tri¬ 
umph  in  death.  Let  the  foregoing  narrative  encou¬ 
rage  the  benevolent  to  search  out,  and  instruct  in 
Christianity,  such  heathen  natives  as  may  be  cast  on 
our  shores,  that,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  they  may  be 
prepared  to  return  to  their  countrymen,  bearing  the 
joyful  tidings  of  salvation  by  Christ  to  those  who  are 
sitting  in  the  region  and  shadow  of  death.  Let  the 


34  MEMOIR  OF  THOMAS  HAMITAH  PATOO.  [34 

reader  pause,  and  inquire  if  it  be  not  a  privilege  to 
contribute  of  his  substance  to  spread  a  religion  that 
could  thus  make  this  poor  heathen  live  and  die  so 
happy; — and  especially  let  him  inquire  whether  this 
blessed  religion  is  his  own — whether  he  has  himself 
submitted  to  that  Saviour  who  was  so  precious  to  this 
heathen  convert — whether  his  own  heart  has  indeed 
been  renewed  by  the  Holy  Spirit ;  so  that,  through 
Divine  grace,  he  can  look  forward  to  the  hour  of  death 
with  the  hope  of  finding  a  death  as  peaceful  and  as 
full  of  joy  as  that  of  Thomas  Hamitah  Patoo! 


86] 


HYMNS. 


35 


1  Peter,  i.  24. 

All  flesh  is  as  grass,  and  all  the  glory  of  man  as  the 
flower  of  grass.  The  grass  withereth,  and  the  flower 
thereof  falleth  away. 

How  lovely  doth  yon  flower  appear, 

As  decked  in  nature’s  fairest  bloom ! 

Fond  zephyrs  now  its  spirit  cheer, 

And  fill  its  bosom  with  perfume. 

How  gx-acefully  it  raises  high 

Its  comely  head,  and  courts  the  sky ! 

But  ah  !  before  the  morrow’s  dawn 
Shall  usher  in  the  wintry  skies, 

Its  beauty  fades — its  charms  are  gone — 

No  more  to  captivate  the  eyes  : 

Then  on  the  ground  it  with’ring  falls 
A  prey  to  ev’ry  worm  that  crawls. 

Just  so,  the  fairest  human  form 
That  now  adorns  Creation’s  field, 

To  morrow  fades — and  to  the  worm 
Is  forc’d,  a  helpless  prey,  to  yield: 

The  flower  fadeth  as  it  blows, 

And  beauty  to  corruption  goes. 

Lord,  fill  my  heart  with  heavenly  fire, 

That  all  its  flames  may  upwards  soar, 

To  woo  his  love,  whom  saints  admire — 

A  Flow’r  whose  beauties  ne’er  expire — 

Whose  fragrance  fills  the  heav’nly  shore. 
Then  will  I  sinless  gaze,  and  him  I’ll  love, 

Till  death  conduct  me  to  his  arms  above. 


36  HYMNS.  L86 

The  Valley  of  the  shadow  of  Death,  illumined  by  the 
•presence  of  Jesus. 

There  is  an  awful,  dreary  vale 

Which  terminates  life’s  barren  heath  ; 

Where  mighty  foes  the  soul  assail, 

’Tis  called  the  solemn  vale  of  death 1 

This  steep  descent,  this  vale  unknown, 

Each  child  of  Adam  must  descend  ; 

Must  tread  the  slippery  path  alone; 

No  human  arm  can  then  befriend. 

At  the  dread  entrance  of  this  shade, 

What  gloomy  fears  distress  the  mind  ! 

Nature  shrinks  back  appall’d,  dismay’d. 

And  fain  would  linger  yet  behind. 

But  hark  !  methinks  a  voice  I  hear, 

“  Say,  fainting  soul,  why  fears  prevail  ? 

Dismiss  each  dark  foreboding  fear, 

For  I’ve  illum’d  this  dreary  vale ; 

'Twas  here  I  vanquish’d  death  and  hell, 

And  as  I  pass’d  to  realms  of  day, 

Some  sparkles  of  my  glory  fell, 

That  Saints  might  track  my  shining  way. 

This  dreaded  valley,  which  you  fear, 

Leads  to  yon  glorious  world  of  light ; 

My  presence  shall  conduct  you  there, 

My  glory  gild  death’s  darkest  night.” 


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THE 


AMERICAN  TRACT  SOCIETY, 

In  addition  to  a  very  extensive  series  of 
duodecimo  Tracts,  in  different  languages, 
Occasional  Volumes,  &c.,  have  published  a 
large  variety  of  Children’s  Books,  among 
which  are  the  following  :  . 

Series  III..,Vol.  \... 32  pages... 32mo. 

1.  Honesty  the  best  Policy. 

2.  History  of  Jenny  Hickling. 

3.  History  of  Thomas  Frankland 

4.  Active  Benevolence;  or,  Lucy  Careful. 

5.  Falsehood  Chastised. 

6.  Account  of  John  Schureman  Sutphen 

7.  The  Lost  Opportunity. 

8.  The  Life  and  Death  of  Lady  Jane  Grey. 

.  VOL.  Ii. 

9.  Bowyer  Smith. 

10.  Good  Boys. 

11.  Life  of  Jesus  Christ, 

12.  The  Premium. 


Fanshaw,  Printer. 


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